What are Black Boxes?
Black boxes are also known as event data recorders or electronic control modules. Most commercial trucks have black boxes. These black boxes record all of a driver’s actions. This information can be critical to a personal injury case. If you have been hurt in a truck accident, then it is important to hire an attorney who has handled commercial truck accident cases. The Dallas truck accident attorney will understand the importance of the black box and ensure that all of the information from the black box is preserved.
What Type of Information can a Black Box Provide?
Speed history, RPM, fuel consumption, time driving, driver identification and movement summary are examples of some of the information that the black box can provide. The federal government does not require that trucks have black boxes. However, it is a standard piece of equipment on most 18 wheeler trucks.
Why Black Boxes are Important?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 433,000 large truck accidents in 2015. These accidents caused 116,000 injuries and 4,015 deaths. You may be able to get compensated for your injuries if you did not do anything to cause the accident. If you were involved in a truck accident, the black box can be vital to your case, however this becomes an extremely complex legal case which will require the assistance of an experience truck accident attorney.
Speeding is the cause of many truck accidents. If the driver was speeding, then the black box will show this. The black box will also be able to show if the driver did not apply his brakes or was distracted. Drivers are required to take rest breaks to recover from many hours on the road to refresh their body and mind. The black box will also show if the driver took the required breaks. Any violation that the driver commits can be used against them and the trucking company in a truck accident case.
If the information provided on the black box can corroborate your own testimony then you will have a strong case. The accident scene will need to be reconstructed in order to determine what caused it and establish who is at fault. The information on the black box will be used to reconstruct the accident scene and assist your attorney in providing you expert legal advice to how you should or should not proceed.
Why You Will Need the Help of a Truck Accident Attorney?
You do not want to deal with an accident on your own. You will need to hire a truck accident attorney as soon as possible. In order for fault to be established, the evidence will need to be preserved. You cannot trust the trucking company to preserve the evidence for you because they likely do not have your best interest in mind.
The information on the black box can be overwritten. The critical data on the black box will be used to establish fault. This information will be helpful when you attempt to pursue your personal injury case. If you do not act quickly, then all of this information can be lost.
The insurance company and trucking company may put up a fight. They may not want to hand over this evidence. That is why it is important to contact an attorney. A Dallas truck accident attorney will do everything that they can to preserve this information.
It can be frustrating to deal with the aftermath of a truck accident. We have the experience that is necessary to handle your case. You will be able to reach us at one of the following numbers.
Arlington (817) 522-4451
Dallas (972) 362-6848
Fort Worth (817) 764-1375
Plano (972) 354-4602
Cedar Hill (972) 338-9427
McKinney (469) 522-3688
Lewisville (972) 354-4605
Frisco (972) 725-7681
Grapevine (817) 835-8677
Irving (972) 354-4610
Keller (817) 204-0904
Garland (214) 572-2251
Denton (940) 222-4060
Addison (972) 564-8108
You can also contact us online by using our quick contact form.
